1. Identify the Charges
* Barium (Ba) is in group 2 of the periodic table, so it forms a +2 ion (Ba²⁺).
* Oxygen (O) is in group 16, so it forms a -2 ion (O²⁻).
2. Balance the Charges
Since the charges have the same magnitude but opposite signs, they already balance perfectly.
3. Write the Formula
The formula of the ionic compound is BaO.
Explanation:
The +2 charge of barium (Ba²⁺) cancels out the -2 charge of oxygen (O²⁻), resulting in a neutral compound.
